Compressed air operated rotary tool



Aug, w- Hr WARREN I QCMPRESSED AIR-OPERATED ROTARY TOOL Fil'd-Dec. 27, 1944' 3 Sheets-Shet 1 III;

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, Wallaee 29. Warren,

1945" .w. H. WARR EN- COMPRESSED AIR-OPERATED ROTARY TOOL :s' sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1944 In ven tor Wdi/aqe H War/-61;

Aug. 14, w WARREN (IQMPRESSED AIR-OPERATED ROTARY TOOL Filed Dec. 27, 1944 3 Sheets Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 v UNITED STATE s PATENT oFFic COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED ROTARY-V TOOL Wallace'H. Warren, Gering, Nebr. Application December 27, 1944-, Serial-No. 569,970

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved rotary tool of the type embodying a work-driving memher and a reversible compressed air-operated motor for actuating said work-driving member.

, in the operation and direction of rotation of the .motor .is controlled by vertically slidable valves mounted in the motor cylinder atopposite sides of the latter and provided with laterally projecting actuating finger-pieces located directly beneath the respective handles, the valves'being normally yieldingly moved to lowered position, and the arrangement being such that when one valve is elevated the piston of the motor will be driven in one direction and when the other valve is elevated the piston will bedriven in theopposite direction. Due to the relative arrangement of the handles and the finger-grips of the valves, the latter are adapted for convenient actuation by fingers of the operator's hands gripping the respective handles while maintaining a firm grip on the latter and by a natural gripping action in which the finger-pieces are pressed upwardly toward the handles.

' Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the-invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more'fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

7 In the drawings, wherein like reference-characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a rotary tool embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3'3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 44 of Figure 2, but with one of the valves inraised position.

Figure 5 is a View somewhat similar'toFigure 4,

' partly broken away, illustratingboth of thevalves in their normal lowered positions. v Figure 6 is a'view similar, to Figure 5, with one of the-valves in raised-position, the raised valve being that which-is loweredsin Figure. 4".

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of one of the valves.

Figure 8- is a view looking at the opposite side ofthe valve shownin Figure'r. FigureQ is'a vertical section takenonline 9 of'Figure 7;

Figure 10 is. a diagrammatic view moreclearly illustrating the arrangement of ports and passages' and how they are controlled'by the valves.

Referring in detail tothedrawings-the present tool includes a rotary-shank -5 having a workdriving member 6 on' the lowerend-thereor. As

shown, this work-driving member isinthe form of a wrench socket detachably applied-to the I lower endof the shank 5 in a'mannerwell known in the art of socket wrenches, soas to permit the interchangeable use of socketsof various kinds and sizes; With' thisarrangement; the invention will provide a power-operated speed wrench, but

it"will' be apparent that a chuck, screw driver bit, or the'like, maybe substituted. for-the wrench socket .6 depending upon' thetype of tooldesired.

The invention further includes-oarotary compressed air-operated motor'having. a: cylinder 1 formed with a central depending .housing- -8-.in which the shank" 5 is rotatably-fitted; The motor is preferably of the'reversible' type including a rotary piston composed of a 'cylindrical rotor. ,9 providedwith a plurality of spring-projected radially movable peripheralvanes I 0- slidably mounted'in' radial slots of the rotor 9., At diametrically opposite sides, the cylinder 1 isinternally thicki cried .to'provide opposed abutments I I which ;con-

tact theperiphery of the rotor 9 and which divide the cylinder into opposed pressure chambers I2. The abutments' are provided-at opposite sides with cam surfaces engaged by the outer ends of the air inletnipple ii to which thecompressed air is supplied by a; hose It" from a suitable source. The thicker portions ofthe Walls of cylinder 1 adjacent the abutments II and handles I3 are formed with vertical valve chambers, l1 and I1, and the head I4 is provided with upper and lower diametric passages I8 and I9 providing communication between the upper ends of the chambers I1 and H, the passage l8 also communieating intermediate its ends with the inlet nipple l5. Exhaust ports and 20' are provided in the bottom of the cylinder 1 to place the lower ends of the valve chambers in communication with the atmosphere. Each of the chambers I1 and H has a similar vertically slidable valve member 2| fitted therein. These valves are of similar form and each includes an air inlet passage 22 and an exhaust passage 23. The inlet passage 22 is provided with branches 24 and 24' that may simultaneously register with the passages l8 and I9 when the valve is raised,the branch 24 being valve in the chamber I1 is raised, as illustrated in Figure 6. When this is done, the air passes from passage |8 into the passage 22 of the valve in.

the air passes from the passage 22 of the valve in chamber l1 through its branch 24 into passage registered with the passage I9 when thevalve is lowered. The inlet passage 22 of each valve also has a further branch24a arranged to communicate withan intake port providedin one side of the adjacent abutment II, when the valve is lowered. The passage 22 has a still further branch 24b arranged to-register with an intake port 26 provided through the opposite side of the adjacent abutment i when the valve is raised. Also, the exhaust passage 23 of each valve is provided in the lower portion ofthe latter and opens through the lower end of the same in constant communication with the associated exhaust port 20 or 20' of the cylinder 1. Passage 23 is'provided 'with a branch 23' adapted to register with an exhaust port 21 provided in the second-mentioned side of the associated abutment I I, when the valve in lowered position and valve 2| of chamber |1 is raised, as shown in Figure 4 and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10. When this is done, the compressed air passes from passage it into passage 22 of the valve in chamber I1, and from said passage 22 through branch 24b and adjacent port 25 into the adjacent end of one pressure chamber I2 behind a vane Ill. At the same time, the compressed air flows from the passage 22 of the valve in chamber |1' through'its branch 24' and passage I9 into the passage 22 of the valve in chamber |1 through its branch 24. From the passage 22 of the valve in chamber, the air passes through the branch 24a of the latter valve and port 25 of the adjacent abutment I I into the adjacent end of the other chamber l2 and behind another vane III. This causes driving of the piston in the desired direction with pressure simultaneously acting upon two of the vanes in the respective chambers l2. At the same time, the exhaust passage 23 of the valve in chamber H- has its-branch 23a registered with the exhaust port 21 of the adjacent abutment II, and the passage 23 of the valve in chamber l1-has its branch 23' registered with the exhaust port 21 in theother abutment [I so as to permit the air in front of the vanes to exhaust from the chambers |2 to the atmosphere so as to not interfere with the driving of the piston. To reverse the ,direction of rotationof the piston, the valve 2| in the chamber I1 is permitted to lower and'the' I9 and then into the passage 22 of the valve in chamber l1 through its branch 24. From the passage 22 of the valve in chamber H, the air passes through the branch 24a of the latter passage 22 and the adjacent port 26 of the adjacent abutment.

piston is driven in the opposite direction. With the valve in chamber l1 raised, its passage 23 communicates with the exhaust port 28 of the adjacent abutment through its branch 23a, while the exhaust passage 23 of the valve in chamber |1 communicates with the exhaust port 28 or the adjacent abutment through the branchfl of said passage 23 of the valve in chamber |1'. Thus, air is exhausted from the chambers I2 in front of the vanes to permit free driving of the piston in the reverse direction.

It will be seen that the motor is inoperative when both valves are lowered, that the piston will be driven in one direction when one valve is raised and the other is allowed to remain in lowered position and that the piston will be driven in the opposite direction when said other valve is raised and the first-named valve is allowed to remain in lowered position. In this way, only one valve need be raised to' effect driving of the piston in the desired direction. Thus, the operator may readily select the direction or rotation of the work-driving member by selecting the particular valve to be raised.

The valves 2| are preferably provided with laterally projecting finger-grips 29 that are disposed directly below the inner ends of the handles I3, and compression springs 30 are-suitably provided for normally yieldingly positioning the valves in lowered position. The finger-grips are thus within convenient reach of the fingers of the hands gripping the handles l3, and raising of the desired valve may be had by natural squeezing 0r gripping pressure of the required hand which effects upward movement of the finger-grip 29 of the valve to be raised. Thusfactuation of the desired valve may be, had by the operator while retaining a firm grip'upon' the handles I3. A desired valve may be readily and quickly raised so as to place the tool in operation with a. minimum effort and loss of time. I

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the presentinvention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be seen thatI have provided a comparatively simple and compact construction which may be economically manufactured and which is exceedingly convenient to use. Minor changes may be made in details of construction illustrated and described, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. I

What I claim is: j

1. A compressed air-operated rotary tool comprising a reversible rotary compressed air-operated motor, said motor comprising a vertical cylinder having handles projecting from opposite sides thereof, a rotary piston in said cylinder having a rigid depending axial shank, normally lowered vertically slidable valves at opposite sides of said cylinder for controlling admission and exhaust of air to and from the same, said cylinder and valves having coacting inlet and exhaustv passages and ports whereby raising of one valve will effect driving of the piston in one direction and raising of the other valve will efiect driving of the piston in the opposite direction, fingergrips projecting laterally from said valves beneath the respective handles and operable by fingers of the hands gripping said handles to selectively raise the valves, and a work-driving member on the lower end of said shank.

2. A compressed air-operated rotary tool comprising a reversible rotary compressed air-operated motor, said motor comprising a vertical cylinder having handles projecting from opposite sides thereof, a rotary piston in said cylinder having a rigid depending axial shank, normally lowered vertically slidable valves at opposite sides of said cylinder for controlling admission and exhaust of air to and from the same, said cylinder and valves having coacting inlet and exhaust passages and ports whereby raising of one valve will effect driving of the piston in one direction and raising of the other valvewill efiect driving of the piston in the opposite direction, finger-grips projecting laterally from said valves beneath the respective handles and operable by fingers of the hands gripping said handles to selectively raise the valves, and a work-driving member on the lower end of said shank, said piston comprising a rotor having radially slidably spring-projected vanes, said cylinder having opvanes in both pressure chambers in driving the piston.

3. A compressed air-operated rotary tool comprising a reversible rotary compressed air-operated motor, said motor comprising a, vertical cylinder having handles projecting from opposite sides thereof, a rotary piston in said cylinder having a rigid depending axial shank, normally lowered vertically slidable valves at opposite sides of said cylinder for controlling admission and exhaust of air to and from the same, said cylinder and valves having coacting inlet and exhaust passages and ports whereby raising of one valve will effect driving of the piston in one direction and raising of the other valve will effect driving of the piston in the opposite direction, fingergrips projecting laterally from said valves beneath the respective handles and operable by fingers of the hands gripping said handles to selectively raise the valves, and a work-driving member on the lower end of saidshank, and compression springs acting to normally lower said valves, said work-driving member comprising a wrench socket attachably mounted on the lower end of the shank.

- WALLACE H. WARREN. 

